talk to me

So much of our humanity's ability to get along and co-exist relies upon the simple passing of messages from one to another.  Communication.  Language.  Message.  These things are used everyday, by every person in the world.  There are many differences of course, many dialects and tongues, cultures and styles of communicating.  Yet there is a sudden, or rather recent shift in communication.  Yet this is not related to any of the pre-existing differences but rather a new age.  Social networks and the mobility of communicating.

  Its getting bad.  A few days ago I went for a run at dusk and also the folowing morning as I had to work all day.  As I was heading out of town that evening, I ran by a woman riding a bicycle, by herself, and I could hear her talking rather loud.  As I got closer and we passed one another I realizaed one hand was on the handlebars, the other on a cell phone and she was carrying on a conversation while pedaling up hill.  The following morning I was running on a dirt road about 2 miles from any populated housing and I spotted another woman (what I thought at first was an animal) and she was sitting by the edge of the road, no houses and sight, alone, talking on her phone.
  Now at the risk of judegement I would like to comment on what I think was the same woman.  I have run through all the scenarios and I still cant believe you would be talking on the phone, in the middle of engaging in another activity, especially as dangerous as bike riding can be.  Seriously.  Even if their best friend or soul mate was on the other end of the line, and they were very sick or something serious, why would you be engaging in other activities while trying to talk to them?
  I believe we have settled.  We, as a progressive culture of young people in an emerging world have settled for lackluster communication and poor connections.  This leads to misunderstandings, hurt feeling, lack of focus, and a completely scattered social scene.  I have come to believe that if somebody really wants to communicate with me they will tell me whats on their mind.  Instead, we often times just do it with a text, or a short internet message that may not even be received for some time. 
  They call it rude when you don't pay attention to someone.  Even careless.  We owe it to ourselves to speak the truth and take the time.  Is that not what you would want from somebody?  Want to plan a trip or make time to hang-out with someone?  Call them.  Have a serious topic to discuss?  Sit down for a cup of coffee.  I know your busy.  Who isn't?  It's worth it, it's important, it must come back.
  I really appreciate my Buddhist brothers and sisters.  They truly take the time to slow down, to connect.  In America, everything moves, fast.  Always has, always will.  It is up to us to connect with one another, on a real level, on a level where we understand eachother, where we know where the other person is coming from.  Our fate as a nation and our Hope of belonging and understanding in a world of so many different types of people relies on this communication.  Lets not settle for second rate.  Let's give our full attention to one another (as best we can) and Hope that, although we may never be able to fully embrace and co-exist, that we can, "not agree, but proclaim love; and communication."- Mae
After all, that is what this blog is about.  Its about taking the time to connect with one another and sharing daily life, good, bad, REAL.  The only reason it is daring is because we don't do it so much anymore.
listen:
anberlin- "Impossible" (acoustic)

companion: part I

Yesterday morning I got up early and prepared for a race, as I have so often over the last five years on a weekend morning when most of my other friends and many people in my age group are still resting quietly in their beds.  Most often these endeavors are to be lived out alone.  Rising, eating, preparing, packing, traveling, warming-up, and racing- all in a solitary state of preparation and focus. 
To go backwards a moment, most of us were involved in sports at one level or another throughout childhood and maybe even high school.  But most often you get to college and post college you drop this type of activity all together.  Not only is this NO good for your physical body but also for the mental and relational side of you as well.  This is yet another reason why endurance sports, such as bike racing, triathlon and running are so cool.  Often times you can have a seventy year old running enthusiast, just happy to finish the race in one piece, toeing the start line with a twenty-one year old collegiate track star who wants to set the course record.  As aforementioned, much of endurance sport time, spent prepping, training and racing, is spent alone; yet it is the time after the dust has settled, the gathering for snacks and awards, the sharing of battle stories, the comfort of family and friends, that we are most happy and even if we have a bad result in an event, all the struggle and strain of the days efforts and washed away, by the smile of a girlfriend or the pat on the back of an old coach...
  Yesterday I had the opportunity to share my passion and the morning's event with my friend Hari.  Not only was this extra inspiration on a chilly and wet morning, but it just made for a better overall experience.  He encouraged me, before and after the race, helped me double check if I had everything I needed, and even held my coat while I raced off into the forest.
  The last few weeks I have thought so much about companions and companionship; and the company we keep.  I have had all sorts of companions, from friends to family, those whom I share laughs with, those who laugh at me, a chance at romance, and a hint of what loving a friend, through thick and thin, is all about.  How blessed I am to have such AMAZING companions to share this life with; and how further magnificent it is to have such different and unique individuals who not only tolerate, but, somehow believe in me, and I in them. 
My prayer for this post is as follows:
That for everyone who reads this, for everyone who is friends with them, for all the people I have a chance to come in contact with, for everyone I have yet to meet:
That you might, by the grace of all things infinite and the imperfection of this planet, seek and be sought, in the companionship of faith, Hope and Love, in friendship, brotherhood, sisterhood and romance, All the days of your life-
for this life is meant to be lived out with one another, because, it is with one another we may truly live.

Even God desires companionship!  (Jesus, the Father, and the spirit- makes three)-

Two song lines have re-occurred to me over and over again corresponding to the above thoughts:

"I'd rather get lost with YOU instead" Mat Kearney [all i have]

                                                and

"Oh my love, won't you sing ALONG?"  [how the day sounds] Greg Laswell